Insect Harborage and Feeding System

Abstract

A harborage for growing and harvesting insects includes a substrate and a mesh material. The substrate has first and second edges extending along the length of the substrate and separated by a shorter width. The substrate includes an absorbent material and is formed into at least one channel extending in a direction along the length of the substrate, in some cases such that the channel is perpendicular to the width and has a depth that is less than the width of the substrate. The mesh material is disposed on the substrate, extends along substantially all of the length of the substrate and includes openings that are smaller than juveniles of a target insect, but sufficiently large to permit liquid feeding of the target insect through the mesh material, which is affixed along the substrate so as to prevent insect egress.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A harborage for growing and harvesting insects, the harborage comprising:
 a substrate having, when configured for growing and harvesting insects, a width and a length and first and second edges extending along the length and separated by the width, the length being more than an order of magnitude greater than the width, wherein the substrate comprises absorbent material and is formed into at least one channel extending in a direction along the length of the substrate; and   a mesh material disposed on the substrate and extending along substantially all of the length of the substrate, the mesh material comprising openings that are smaller than juveniles of a target insect for the harborage but that are sufficiently large to permit liquid feeding of the target insect through the mesh material, the mesh material being affixed along the substrate so as to prevent egress of insects residing between the mesh material and the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The harborage of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel has a depth that is less than the width of the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The harborage of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed into two or more channels extending along the length of the substrate and perpendicular to the width of the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The harborage of  claim 3 , wherein the mesh materially is affixed along each of the first and second edges of the substrate in a substantially continuous manner. 
     
     
         5 . The harborage of  claim 3 , wherein first and second channels of the two or more channels are separated by a rib between the first and second channels and extending along the length of the substrate, and wherein the mesh material is affixed to the rib in at least an intermittent manner along the length of the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The harborage of  claim 5 , wherein the harborage comprises a plurality of openings in the rib, said openings being sized to allow target insects to move through the openings. 
     
     
         7 . The harborage of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate, when configured for growing and harvesting insects, comprises two or more channels extending diagonally along and across the substrate, and wherein each of the two or more channels is divided into a plurality of cells. 
     
     
         8 . The harborage of  claim 1 , further comprising additional absorbent harborage material disposed in and along the at least one channel, the additional harborage material comprising one of or more of:
 shredded material;   folded material;   baffled material;   segmented material;   crumpled material;   die-cut material; and   honeycomb material.   
     
     
         9 . A harborage producing system, comprising:
 the harborage of  claim 1 , disposed along a conveyor system; and   a plurality of insects disposed in and along the at least one channel of the harborage, within the confines of the substrate and the mesh material.   
     
     
         10 . The harborage producing system of  claim 9 , further comprising one or more rollers disposed across the harborage at a first end of a first zone extending along the harborage, wherein the one or more rollers are disposed so as to compress the harborage and thereby form a boundary preventing the live passage of insects past the first end of the first zone. 
     
     
         11 . The harborage producing system of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more additional rollers disposed across the harborage at a second end of a first zone extending along the harborage, the second end of the first zone being separated from the first end of the first zone by, a first zone length, wherein the one or more additional rollers are disposed so as to compress the harborage and thereby form a boundary preventing the live passage of insects past the second end of the first zone. 
     
     
         12 . The harborage producing system of  claim 9 , further comprising a freezer, the harborage and conveyor system being disposed to pass the harborage through the freezer. 
     
     
         13 . The harborage producing system of  claim 9 , further comprising a cutter, grinder, and/or shredder, the harborage and conveyor system being disposed to pass the harborage into the cutter, grinder, and/or shredder. 
     
     
         14 . A feeder for feeding insects that feed on blood or liquid meal, the feeder comprising:
 first and second chassis portions that are spaced apart by a width; and   a membrane spread out by the first and second chassis portions so as to hold the blood or liquid meal in a space formed between the first and second chassis portions, wherein the membrane comprises a material penetrable by feeding appendages of the insects.   
     
     
         15 . The feeder of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second chassis portions comprise first and second chassis tubes configured for passing fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The feeder of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second chassis portions are comprised of a thermally-conductive material. 
     
     
         17 . The feeder of  claim 14 , further comprising one or more additional elements between the first and second chassis portions, the one or more additional elements being arranged to pass through or contact the blood or liquid meal and being configured to warm the blood or liquid meal. 
     
     
         18 . The feeder of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one coupler mechanically coupled to the first and second chassis portions and configured to adjust the width between the first and second chassis portions, thereby adjusting a tightness of the membrane between the first and second chassis portions. 
     
     
         19 . The feeder of  claim 14 , wherein the membrane is wrapped around the first and second chassis portions to form a membrane tube, and wherein the space that holds the blood or liquid meal is located within the membrane tube and between the chassis portions. 
     
     
         20 . The feeder of  claim 19 , wherein the membrane tube is open on at least one end so as to allow a passage of the blood or liquid meal into or out of the membrane tube. 
     
     
         21 . The feeder of  claim 19 , wherein at least one end of each of the first and second chassis portions is angled upwards relative to a bottom surface of the membrane tube so as to cause the blood or liquid meal to pool in the space between the first and second portions within the membrane tube and to prevent the blood or liquid meal from spilling out of the membrane tube. 
     
     
         22 . The feeder of  claim 19 , further comprising a feeder insert configured to be positioned against an internal side of a top surface of the membrane tube when the membrane tube is filled with the blood or liquid meal, wherein the feeder insert is configured in size to displace a first portion of the blood or liquid meal in the membrane tube while leaving a second portion of the blood or liquid meal in the membrane tube at least between the bottom of the feeder insert and a bottom surface of the membrane tube. 
     
     
         23 . The feeder of  claim 14 , wherein the membrane is a natural membrane. 
     
     
         24 . The feeder of  claim 14 , wherein the membrane is a synthetic membrane. 
     
     
         25 . A feeder for feeding insects that feed on blood or liquid meal, the feeder comprising:
 a metal body comprising an internal reservoir configured for receiving a warming fluid and comprising a plurality of ribs extending along a first surface of the metal body, so as to form a plurality of channels configured to receive the blood or liquid meal; and   a membrane disposed on and affixed to the metal body on the first surface of the metal body, such that blood or liquid meal supplied to the plurality of channels is confined between the metal body and the membrane.   
     
     
         26 . The feeder of  claim 25 , further comprising inlet piping and outlet piping in fluid communication with the internal reservoir. 
     
     
         27 . The feeder of  claim 25 , further comprising inlet piping and exit piping in fluid communication with one or several of the plurality of chambers.